The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima
Page Count: 506
Reading Level: YA
Book summary: Times are hard in the mountain city of Fellsmarch. Reformed thief Han Alister will do almost anything to eke out a living for himself, his mother, and his sister Mari. Ironically, the only thing of value he has is something he can't sell. For as long as Han can remember, he's worn thick silver cuffs engraved with runes. They're clearly magicked; as he grows, they grow, and he's never been able to get them off. While out hunting one day, Han and his Clan friend, Dancer catch three young wizards setting fire to the sacred mountain of Hanalea. After a confrontation, Han takes an amulet from Micah Bayar, son of the High Wizard, to ensure the boy won't use it against them. Han soon learns that the amulet has an evil history; it once belonged to the Demon King, the wizard who nearly destroyed the world a millennium ago. With a magical piece that powerful at stake, Han knows that the Bayars will stop at nothing to get it back.
Meanwhile, Raisa anaMarianna, Princess Heir of the Fells, has her own battles to fight. She's just returned to court after three years of relative freedom with her father's family at Demonai camp; riding, hunting, and working the famous Clan markets. Although Raisa will become eligible for marriage after her sixteenth name-day, she isn't looking forward to trading in her common sense and new skills for etiquette tutors and stuffy parties. Raisa wants to be more than an ornament in a glittering cage. She aspires to be like Hanalea; the legendary warrior queen who killed the Demon King and saved the world. But it seems like her mother has other plans for her--plans that include a suitor who goes against everything the Queendom stands for.
My review: I enjoy a good story; I LOVE a great high fantasy story. Chima has delivered an exceptional story of feuding clans, power seeking wizards, secret keeping elders, a kingdom full of deceitful people and an easily swayed and conflicted queen. At the heart of The Demon King stands Han Alister (or Hunts Alone, as he's known to the Marisa Pines Camp) and Raisa, the next in line to be Queen. Han seeks a vocation like his closest friends, Fire Dancer and Bird, but he's unsure of what to choose with his less than stellar background (being the ex-head of a street gang of kids, a thief and a peddlar). Raisa is tired of being told how to think by those around her and she wants to be able to do good things for the people in her kingdom. But her plans change when her mother tries to force her into marrying a wizard (which is against the law).
A young man learns his true heritage and a young woman discovers her throne is strife with corruption and she must do something about it. By the time this novel ends both have begun their journeys toward unveiling their true callings in life and the reader is happy to go along for the ride.
The Demon King has a lot of wonderful world building, a cast of terrific, multi-dimensional characters, and intersecting layered story lines which never seem tiresome or boring. Fans of fantasy have a new series to check out with the first title in The Seven Realms.
Rating: ++++
Favorite excerpt: (From page 290.)
"He was just crossing a small cobblestone courtyard, when they materialized from the darkness, three tall cloaked figures who came at him from three directions, seeming to drift soundlessly over the pavement.
"Blood of the demon," Han muttered, backing away, his mouth going dry and metallic with fear.
Their hoods were pulled forward, obscuring their faces (if they even had faces), and they wore black leather gloves so there was nothing about them to even suggest they were human. They seemed to glow through the misting rain, smears of light all around them that spoke of sorcery.
He'd heard of things like this, demons who walked the streets, seeking souls for the Breaker when business was poor.
"Don't go so soon," one of them said, his voice as sibilant as a snake's. "We want to talk to you. We're looking for someone."
"I . . . I can't help you," Han said, his back coming up against a wall. "I . . . don't know where anyone is."
The monster's laugh was bone chilling. "I think you do. I think you can help us. In fact, you're going to be very, very eager to help us before we're through."
Cover comment: I found the cover very fitting. The pictured amulet plays a prominent role in the novel as does the mountains. Liked it.
Series: The Exiled Queen, the second title in The Seven Realms, will be released on September 28.
Book source: Around the World tours
I read this book last year and I truly enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteVery well written, interesting characters and story...
I am veeeery curious to know more about Alger Waterlow, the Demon King... he made me curious from the start and I thought in his story there was going to be much more that it seemed... was he really bad? Or someone told his story changing many things?
Of course I liked Han and his friend Dancer... while sometimes Raisa seemed a bit shallow... but I suppose she will grow up and mature in the following books...